Western Pennsylvania Healthcare News

Covering healthcare news in the Pittsburgh region and beyond.

Banner Ad

Medical Bill Meltdown: How to Pay for an ER Visit with No Insurance

by

If you’ve had to make a trip to the emergency room and ended up with a huge bill, you’re not alone. The average ER cost was $1,917 in 2016, but some people can find their bills run over $10,000!

Unlike insured patients who may pay a co-pay and co-insurance, you’ll receive a bill for the full cost of your ER visit without health insurance. This surprise can really hit you hard financially.

While you may feel tempted to ignore the bill, don’t! Avoiding the problem will make things worse as the hospital can turn you over to a collection agency. 

Luckily, you have several options to pay for your ER visit with no insurance. In some cases, you might get your bill completely eliminated, but you can still save at least a little money.

[Read more…]

Shoulder Joint Pain: How to Ease It

by

When your shoulder is feeling stiff or achy, it can be a challenge to get things done. All of the sudden that hook shot in basketball is impossible, and simple tasks like putting away dishes is a nightmare. If you’re struggling with the onset of shoulder joint pain, you’re probably looking for reasons why you’re in pain and how to solve the problem as soon as possible.

https://blog.nutrixen.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/shutterstock_557017414.jpg

Why Does Should Joint Pain Occur?

There are several reasons why a person may be experiencing shoulder joint pain. However, the most probably causes include the following:

  • Tendon inflammation. Overusing your shoulder or partaking in an activity that uses your shoulder that in a way that you are not used to, makes you end up hurting the tiny fluid-filled sacs in the joint of your shoulder. This will cause inflammation and something swelling, which will make simple tasks like brushing your hair seemingly impossible.
  • Tendinitis. There are two types of tendinitis, both of which effect the tendon, a cord that connects bone to muscles. Acute tendinitis will happen if you are doing excessive overhead activities, much like you would do for sports or work. Chronic tendinitis, on the other hand, is a degenerative diseases similar to arthritis. This can occur due to repetitive wear and tear on the tendon as well as old age.
  • Tendon tears. This type of tear can occur from a long-term of overuse of the shoulder, or an injury that has occurred. In most cases, only a simple tear will take place. However, complete tears are possible in which the tendon is pulled completely apart from the attachment to the bone.
  • Instability. If you have ever heard of someone pulling their shoulder of its socket, this is essentially what they are saying. When instability occurs, the upper arm bone has been removed from the shoulder socket. This is primarily be due to a sudden injury, but is caused by overuse.
  • Fracture. A fracture, or broken bone, has typically been caused by a great fall or some type of impact injury. It is a noticeable injury causing severe pain and swelling of the injured location.
[Read more…]

To lower patient costs, lawmakers must push for middleman oversight

by

By Andrea Baer, MS

As the director of patient advocacy and program management at Mended Hearts, one of my chief priorities is assuring the millions of our patients suffering from heart disease have long-term and affordable access to life-saving medications.

All too frequently, however, it is a struggle for these patients to balance daily expenses with increasingly high insurance costs associated with their prescription drugs. 

Many decisions they are left with are cruel. For example: Should I spend my money on groceries or this month’s co-pay? 
People who suffer from any life-threatening disease shouldn’t have to make that choice. 

Rising out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs are not only a strain on their wallets. They are a threat to their very existence.

That’s why it was a step in the right direction when the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) earlier this year announced a proposed rule that would reform the drug rebate system. 

The rule would eliminate protections for these rebates negotiated by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and instead offer those protections to discounts passed directly to consumers. 

The current system harms patients whose co-pays can sometimes be higher than the prices paid by their health plans receiving the rebates.
Allowing these rebates to finally reach patients – as they always should have – will make an enormous difference in their lives and those of their families.

Ultimately, these measures would respect the physician-patient relationship, removing the negative impact of PBMs and making the recommended treatments more accessible.

Unfortunately, by law, the HHS rule can only impact Medicare Part D plan sponsor and Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), but Azar is pushing for Congress to extend these protections to commercial insurers. 

One federal lawmaker in particular is listening. Earlier this month, Indiana Sen. Mike Braun introduced the Drug Price Transparency Act and two other bills aimed at lowering drug prices. The Transparency Act would expand the HHS rule to the commercial insurance market and prohibit PBMs from receiving any rebates or reductions in price from drug manufacturers.

[Read more…]

Know the essential benefits of self-watering planters

by

Gardening looks simple, comfortable and relaxing! However, the art of gardening has nuances that need to be studied with attention to minor details. Gardening today is categorized into traditional and modern tactics. So, if you happen to be a non-traditional gardener, then it is essential that you would search for an alternative option to the conventional “spade-in-the-ground” gardening. And if you are, then the self-watering planters are the best solution for you. 

Understanding self-watering planters

Not many people might be aware of gardening terms self-watering planters. Simply put, it is self-contained raised beds, which showcases in-built reservoirs that supply the water to the plant roots as well. Especially, designed keeping in mind a wide variety of plants and flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruits there isn’t any urban environment that is either very big or small for the self- watering planters. If you intend to plant a single vegetable, such as a tomato, then you can search for “how to use a tomato planter” and get adequate information. 

[Read more…]

Choosing the Right Wheelchair for Older Adults for Better Mobility

by

When you need to choose a wheelchair for yourself or a loved one, you need to be aware of the product before you buy it. The buying decision for an electric wheelchair is similar to buying an automobile for yourself or an elderly family member who is too weak to push manual wheelchairs. Like everything else, an electric wheelchair has its share of pros and cons. You should research well about the different products available in the market so that you can get the best wheelchair for your required needs. 

What are the benefits of buying an electric wheelchair? 

The following are the benefits of buying an electric wheelchair: –

1. Ease of mobility- You do not have to put a lot of effort when it comes to pushing a wheelchair. These wheelchairs have a joystick that makes it simple for you to navigate the movements of the wheelchair.

2. Get more independence with an electric wheelchair- The biggest advantage of an electric wheelchair is you do not need someone for pushing the wheelchair for you. You get the independence of navigating the wheelchair on your own. This gives you more freedom and independence of movement. 

[Read more…]